Compare towns
Castleton vs Dummerston vs Benson vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Dummerston | Benson | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,090 |
784Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Benson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.